March 1, 2008

Final Stats

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Xavier survived a frantic final 20 minutes of play to escape the Reilly Center with a 60-57 victory over the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team Saturday afternoon on Bob Lanier Court.

Following today's result, the Bonnies fall to 18-11 (6-8) after their second straight loss to the close the regular season, while the Musketeers picked up their sixth consecutive win over the Brown and White to improve to 21-8 (11-3) heading into the postseason.

Sophomore Dana Mitchell registered 14 of her team-high 18 points in the second session, including 10 in the final 5:55. Fellow classmate Andrea Doneth was close behind with 17 points, four rebounds and four assists to finish with her fifth straight double digit contest since moving to the bench. All 14 of junior Erica Schiefen's points came in the final 20 minutes as she sparked the initial Bona comeback effort.

It was a tale of two halves for the Bonnies as the club connected on a blistering 51.7 percent (15-29) from the field to close the game en route to 41 second half points after beginning the game at a 20 percent clip. The Brown and White also forced 11 miscues in the final 20 minutes, leading to 12 points off turnovers.

For the third straight game, the Bonnies were dominated on the glass as the Musketeers out-rebounded the Bonnies 50-29 with 18 caroms on the offensive end. The dynamic duo of sophomore Amber Harris and freshman Ta'Shia Phillips were large factors on the boards as each closed with double-doubles and a combined 28 rebounds.

Harris finished with her 13th double-double of the season with a game-high 21 points and 11 caroms, while Phillips posted her league-leading 17th double dipper with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Junior Tudy Reed added 10 points off the bench.

Thanks to the hot-shooting from Schiefen, the Bonnies stormed out of intermission on a 19-6 run to knot the game at 34-34 less than eight minutes into the second stanza. After being held scoreless in the first half, the 6-0 forward knocked down three quick triples and converted on a crafty reverse lay up to account for 11 of Bona's opening 13 points.

Xavier bounced back from its dismal start by scoring 13 of the next 17 points to re-gain a nine point edge at 49-40 with 6:43 remaining in regulation. Harris notched eight of the Musketeer points during the stretch, including the club's last six tallies of the spurt.

However, Mitchell led a furious 12-2 run over the next 3:50 span to turn around a late nine-point deficit into the Bonnies' only lead of the game at 52-51 with 2:02 showing on the scoreboard. The reigning Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team selection accounted for six straight Bona points and 10 total tallies during the run.

The Musketeers responded with the next seven points, including a three-pointer from freshman Special Jennings to re-take the lead for good at 54-52 with 1:40 left. Thanks a Mitchell baseline jumper and Schiefen's fourth trifecta of the day, the Bonnies pulled within 58-57 with nine seconds to go, but were forced into a turnover with two seconds left.

An Atlantic 10 season low 16 first half points saw the Bonnies trailing Xavier 28-16 after the opening 20 minutes of action.

The Musketeers dominated the paint early with 30 rebounds at the break, including nine on the offensive end. Phillips registered more than half of her team's points with 15 before halftime.

Xavier raced out of the opening tip as the visiting club tallied the game's first eight points, while holding the Bonnies scoreless for over three minutes. Phillips accounted for six of her team's first eight, including a pair of offensive rebound put backs.

After coming within a single possession, St. Bonaventure conceded nine straight points to the Musketeers as they extended their lead to double digits for the first time at 19-8. Reed was responsible for five of Xavier's points with an easy transition lay up as well as the team's only triple of the half.

Despite trading baskets down the stretch, Xavier gained its largest lead of the half at 26-13 following a traditional three-point play from Phillips at the 3:38 mark. Doneth kept her club within striking distance as she was the only Bonnie to score in the final six-plus minutes. The second-year guard tallied all nine of her first half points during the span, including a pair of three-pointers.

Prior to this afternoon's tip-off, St. Bonaventure's three seniors: Megan Ellis, Maripier Malo and Iben Soltau were honored in recognition of their hard work over the last four years. All three joined the starting five against Xavier.

The Brown and White will return to action on Friday, March 7 during the Opening Round of the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship at Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse on the campus of Saint Joseph's. Game time and opponent will be determined following the conclusion of regular season play later this evening.